Russell Brand has been accused of ‘mindless idioacy’ after joking that teen stars should take heroin.
In an interview with Rolling Stone the comedian joked that teen stars like Justin Bieber should take the drug in an attempt to rid the world of ‘awful’ songs.
Brand said “The top of the hit parade would look very different if teenyboppers were exposed to heroin. It would weed a lot of them out.”
“I don’t think Justin Bieber could handle [Pink Floyd guitarist] Syd Barrett’s habit.
“You’re just not allowed into the studio until you first have had drug-addiction issues. It separates the men from the boys.
“A lot of people in their journey to rehab - overdose. And then, perhaps, we would be spared their awful music. It’s Darwinian. It’s the law of natural selection.”
Not quite Russell, but points for trying.
David Raynes of the Drug Prevention Alliance didn’t think it was very funny declaring that “this is mindless idiocy”.
The Daily Mail (obviously) quotes Raynes saying “It smacks of a desperate attention seeking from Brand. It’s just ridiculous. You despair of these people – why would anyone say that?”
However Chip Somers, chief exec of Focus 12, a charity which deals in drug and alcohol addiction and which Brand is a patron of, defended the star saying:
“Russell has always been an ardent supporter of the work we do helping to get people off drugs.
“His support has enabled the charity to continue over the last two years when he has donated more than £100,000.”
Copyright : Comedy Central UK